Overview

Bond has a long history of representing elementary and secondary schools across the state. Our school law practice encompasses an array of services necessary to meet the diverse needs of our school clients.

Currently, the firm provides general or special legal services to more than 80 school districts and independent schools throughout the state. Our school law practice draws on the experience of attorneys from all departments within the firm in order to provide effective, timely and efficient service to our school clients.

Because we serve a large number of districts and schools, we believe it is our responsibility both to stay current with the evolving requirements of the law and to assist in achieving sound, practical results.

Bond is proud to deliver legal services to the following New York State public school districts:

School District County Region
Capital Region BOCES Albany Capital 
DeRuyter Central School District Madison Central NY
Baldwinsville Central School District Onondaga Central NY
BOCES-Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Counties Onondaga Central NY
Jamesville Dewitt Central School District Onondaga Central NY
Jordan-Elbridge Central School District Onondaga Central NY
Liverpool Central School District Onondaga Central NY
Marcellus Central School District Onondaga Central NY
North Syracuse Central School District Onondaga Central NY
Onondaga Central School District Onondaga Central NY
Skaneateles Central School District Onondaga Central NY
Tully Central School District Onondaga Central NY
Westhill Central School District Onondaga Central NY
Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School Oswego Central NY
Central Square School District Oswego Central NY
City School District of Oswego Oswego Central NY
Hannibal Central School District Oswego Central NY
Mexico Academy & Central School District Oswego Central NY
Pulaski Central School District Oswego Central NY
Alexander Central School District Genesee Finger Lakes
Byron-Bergen Central School District Genesee Finger Lakes
Genesee Valley BOCES Genesee Finger Lakes
Pavilion Central School District Genesee Finger Lakes
Pembroke Central School District Genesee Finger Lakes
Mount Morris Central School District Livingston Finger Lakes
York Central School District Livingston Finger Lakes
Churchville-Chili Central School District Monroe Finger Lakes
Greece Central School District Monroe Finger Lakes
Honeoye Central School District Ontario Finger Lakes
Albion Central School District Orleans Finger Lakes
Orleans/Niagara BOCES Orleans Finger Lakes
Wayne Central School District Wayne Finger Lakes
Attica Central School District Wyoming Finger Lakes
Great Neck Public Schools Nassau Long Island
Port Washington Union Free School District Nassau Long Island
Westbury Union Free School District Nassau Long Island
Brentwood Union Free School District Suffolk Long Island
Commack Union Free School District Suffolk Long Island
Sayville Union Free School District Suffolk Long Island
William Floyd Union Free School District Suffolk Long Island
Poughkeepsie City School District Dutchess Mid-Hudson
Harrison Central School District Orange Mid-Hudson
Middletown City School District Orange Mid-Hudson
Orange-Ulster BOCES Orange Mid-Hudson
Valley Central School District Orange Mid-Hudson
Rockland BOCES Rockland  Mid-Hudson
Sullivan West Central School District Sullivan  Mid-Hudson
Bedford Central School District Westchester Mid-Hudson
Bronxville Union Free School District Westchester Mid-Hudson
Byram Hills Central School District Westchester Mid-Hudson
Edgemont Union Free School District Westchester Mid-Hudson
North Salem Central School District Westchester Mid-Hudson
Public Schools of the Tarrytowns Westchester Mid-Hudson
Rye Neck Union Free School District Westchester Mid-Hudson
Scarsdale Union Free School District Westchester Mid-Hudson
Poland Central School District Herkimer Mohawk Valley
Town of Webb Union Free School District Herkimer Mohawk Valley
Camden Central School District Oneida Mohawk Valley
Clinton Central School District Oneida Mohawk Valley
New Hartford Central School District Oneida Mohawk Valley
Utica City School District Oneida Mohawk Valley
Chazy Central Rural School District Clinton North Country 
City School District of the City of Plattsburgh Clinton North Country
Keene Central School District Essex North Country
Ticonderoga Central School District Essex North Country
Tupper Lake Central School District Franklin North Country
General Brown Central School District Jefferson  North Country
Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES Jefferson  North Country
Canton Central School District St. Lawrence North Country
Edwards-Knox Central School District St. Lawrence North Country
Morristown Central School District St. Lawrence North Country
Ogdensburg Central School District St. Lawrence North Country
Whitney Point Central School District Broome Southern Tier
Greater Southern Tier BOCES Chemung Southern Tier
Wayland-Cohocton Central School District Steuben Southern Tier
George Junior Republic School District Tompkins Southern Tier
Ithaca City School District Tompkins Southern Tier
Trumansburg Central School District Tompkins Southern Tier
Cheektowaga-Sloan UFSD Erie Western NY
North Tonawanda City Schools Niagara Western NY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We assist clients by acting as bond counsel and special counsel to school districts in public finance transactions. Our representation includes rendering opinions regarding school district obligations (including tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes and serial bonds), that such obligations have been properly authorized, issued and are valid obligations of the school district, and that interest on such obligations is excludable from the gross income of the holders for federal, state and local tax purposes; assisting school districts in structuring financing; and providing advice regarding the requirements and restrictions of the Internal Revenue Code, the local Finance Law and the Education Law applicable to School District borrowings.

Our construction law practice includes negotiation, drafting and review of contracts for improvements to real property, including owner/architect agreements, owner/contractor agreements and contractor/ subcontractor agreements; enforcement or defense of construction claims through alternative dispute resolution; and negotiation and review of energy performance contracts.

 

Top 10 Tips for Avoiding Public School Construction Setbacks

Our firm has represented clients on environmental issues since the late 1940's. Our practice addresses all aspects of environmental law, environmental review of school district construction projects under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA); permit applications and enforcement proceedings; regulatory compliance; environmental considerations involved in leasing, sale and purchase of real property; and regulation of asbestos projects, indoor air pollution, storage tanks, disposal of laboratory and other hazardous wastes, and compliance with the SEQRA as it relates to educational projects.

We provide our school district clients with the full range of general education law services including preparation of Board policies, Board resolutions and legal notices; assistance with, and attendance at, regular and special Board meetings; review of Board meeting agendas; assistance with Board elections, budget votes, propositions and contingency budgets; implementation of voter registration and absentee ballot systems; handling of Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and Open Meetings Law issues; counsel and assistance with the No Child Left Behind Act; counsel and assistance with school-based health centers and other health-related issues; representation in administrative proceedings before the Commissioner of Education, U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, Office of Professional Discipline, as well as state and federal court proceedings; counsel and assistance with agency audits, implementation and administration of school supportive health service programs receiving federal Medicaid reimbursement; and provision of general advice, counsel and legal opinions regarding all aspects of school district operations.

We provide training to school boards, administrators and staff on many aspects of school law including school safety issues (student discipline, search and seizure, use of force, dress codes, gun-free schools); mandated reporting and child abuse and neglect; confidentiality of student records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; compliance with the IDEA and other disability laws; as well as labor and employment law topics such as sexual harassment, disability discrimination, teacher evaluation and discipline, excessing and seniority rights and proper investigatory methods. We train on any school law issues and will tailor the presentations to address the specific needs and concerns of your district.

We provide the full spectrum of labor and employment law services to school districts including labor negotiations for instructional and non-instructional bargaining units; PERB impasse procedures, improper practice litigation and representation at hearings; grievance arbitration; Section 3020-a proceedings, Section 75 proceedings and related proceedings before the Commissioner and the courts; drafting and reviewing employment agreements; defense of employment discrimination claims before the State Division of Human Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in state and federal courts; assistance in the preparation and/or review of employment-related school board policies and administrative regulations; counseling on day-to-day employee relation matters and on a full range of equal employment opportunity issues; counseling human resource administrators on individual employee situations (e.g., tenure, certification, transfer, disability, etc.); conducting training for administrators and other school personnel on issues such as sexual harassment, disability discrimination, effective supervision and discipline and the Family Medical Leave Act; assistance with harassment and employment discrimination investigations and reporting; state and federal wage/hour matters; OSHA regulations and enforcement; and unemployment insurance matters.

We assist our clients in all phases of the competitive bidding process, including legal notices and advertising for bids, dealing with irregularities in bids received, determining the lowest responsible bidder and negotiating and drafting agreements. We similarly assist our clients in all phases of the procurement of services and deliverables not subject to competitive bidding, including the development of requests for proposals, and in all aspects of property leasing, lease-purchase agreements, installment purchase contracts, disposal of surplus property and telecommunication and computer systems contract negotiation.

We offer a full range of legal services on matters involving the education of students with disabilities including compliance issues arising under the IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the ADA and state laws and regulations impacting on students with disabilities; attendance at CSE meetings; and representation at impartial hearings, appeals to the State Review Officer, civil lawsuits and administrative proceedings.

We have vast experience in all areas of student-related matters such as student discipline, including Superintendent's Hearings, Project SAVE and Appeals to the Commissioner of Education; search and seizure issues; student rights and responsibilities; release of student records (FERPA); student group and equal access issues; residency determinations; child abuse in the educational setting; pupil attendance policies and reporting; home schooling; and transportation issues.

We assist our clients in real property taxation and assessment review matters; and in obtaining charitable, educational, religious, business investment and environmental exemptions.